Governor Alex Otti
The Abia State Government has placed a N25 million bounty on the killers of five soldiers at Obikabia junction, Ogbor Hill in Aba.
News Rider reports that unknown gunmen had on Thursday, May 30, 2024 attacked a military checkpoint, killed five soldiers and burnt two patrol vans.
The incident coincided with a sit-at-home order across the Southeast in commemoration of the Biafra Day celebration, as announced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Unfortunately, the celebration turned bloody at Aba as unknown gunmen killed the soldiers and allegedly seized their rifles and escaped.
But the State Governor, Alex Otti condemned the attack, just as he commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja and the Military High Command in the country for the unfortunate incident.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the gallant soldiers who died while in active duty.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu on Friday in Abia, he disclosed that the government is committed to security, safety and peace within its territory at all times.
He said: "The Abia State Government considers the event of Thursday, May 30, 2024 a serious affront to its resolve by criminal elements who are hell-bent on returning Abia to the dark days of insecurity and fear amongst citizens, especially in Aba, the economic heartbeat of the State.
"This is more regrettable in the light of the fact that unprecedented investments have been made in the last one year to restore the city’s public infrastructure and reposition it as an attractive investment destination for local and foreign businesses.
“The government will therefore respond appropriately to reassure citizens, investors and friends of Abia across the world that it will be relentless in bringing the full wrath of the law to bear on anyone or group who constitutes the slightest threat to the peace and security of the land, whatever be their motivation.
“To underscore its resolve, the State Government is offering a N25 million (Twenty-five Million Naira) reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs."
He disclosed that security formations in the state have been directed to treat informants with all the confidentiality required to guarantee their full cooperation and assistance until the criminals are fully apprehended and brought to book.
The state government promised to prioritise the welfare of the security operatives working in the state, pledging to take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers, including payment of regular stipends to their spouses, and the education of their children to university level.
He appreciated the officers and men of the Nigerian Army in the state for maintaining a high sense of professionalism in their response to the distressing event.
The government vowed to encourage the military and security personnel to continue to show restraint, whether at the checkpoints, on patrol, or while engaged in other security duties.
He assured that the government would continue to work with all relevant stakeholders, including the security high commands, traditional and community leaders to gather and process all intelligence information, which would ultimately lead to the capture of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Obikabia junction, and anyone directly or remotely connected to it in any form.
To this end, the government encouraged the residents to go about their legitimate duties without fear, as necessary measures have been put in place to ensure their safety and that of businesses in all parts of Abia.
He advised individuals with useful information on the activities and movement of criminals in their neighbourhood to share such information with the security agencies as quickly as possible for necessary action.
The government enjoined traditional rulers in the state to establish suitable local intelligence gathering mechanisms in their localities and share new information with the security agencies regularly.
While vowing to bring the full weight of the law on any traditional ruler found to be harbouring criminal elements, he promised to support the security agencies in the state to protect lives and property.
He warned criminal elements that the statement considering all parts of Abia as a no-go area is still in force, saying that any attempt to test the will of the government like the Thursday incident would be resisted with every resource at the disposal of the state.
The government noted that Abia would remain very hospitable and accommodating to all law-abiding citizens and those engaged only in legitimate businesses as defined by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He promised that the state shall continue to be a very hostile space for anyone whose actions or inactions, are capable of disrupting the peace and security of the communities.
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